Elks strive to help others through local charities

By Laurie HuffmanThe ReviewPublished: January 10, 2013 3:00AM

People who are homeless, or near to it, those who can't afford their medicine, and women and children seeking shelter from domestic violence will be given a hand this year due to the generosity of the members of Alliance Elks Lodge No. 467. Scott Cully, chair of the Charities Committee, presented $1,000 to three local agencies on Wednesday, which was a portion of the money he collected in November and December during the club's annual charity fundraising drive.

There to accept the donations at the Elks Lodge were Kim Stanley, executive director of the Alliance Area Domestic Violence Shelter; Shirene Starn-Tapyrik, CEO of Alliance for Children and Families, which provides emergency, temporary and long-term housing to those who are homeless; and Jeff Caldwell, pastor of Serving Hands Ministry.

Cully reported the Alliance Elks has about 1,000 members, and from that membership enough money was raised this year to give the $3,000 out to three agencies on Wednesday, to feed more than 400 people through a Christmas food basket program, distribute $900 to the area veterans hospital, and distribute more than $70,000 in scholarships to young people in the community.

"I'm very proud of what our members do because that's people that live in the Alliance community that want to help other people in our community," said Cully. "That's our members coming forward and saying they want to help and then following through with their donations from their own pockets."

One of the local Elks' biggest charity efforts is for the veterans. The Alliance Elks took $900 worth of supplies to the veterans hospital near Cleveland after receiving a list of items that were needed by the patients, such as toothpaste and socks.

Cully reported Serving Hands Ministries was chosen as a recipient this year, in part, because it has started a new program to help people who can't afford their medicine. The ministry also has staff trained that go out to people's homes and take their blood pressure and perform well checks. He said Caldwell told him Serving Hands created the new program after becoming more familiar with the needs in the community through its food ministry. "They feed the same people year after year, and, like us, they don't just want to provide meals for people, they want to help them with other needs too," said Cully.

"My gratification in helping the club do all of this each year is to see people getting the help they need when they're having a tough time. We also try to take our assistance one step further when we see extra help is needed. We took 12 food baskets to the homeless shelter this year at Christmastime and when we saw the children in need there, we came back later to bring them some toys," said Cully.

Cully said people don't forget the help they receive during times of hardship. "I have one guy who drove all the way up here from Florida this year to give us $300. He's doing well now and is living in Boca Raton, but he said we gave him a food basket about three years ago, and he never forgot it," Cully closed.